Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-02-17
A WOMAN'S BLUNDER.
What Game of Village Post
mistress Carelessness.

'Mulnns ana crumpets made TO or
DER Thus ran the written notice,
penned, too, in characters nearly APP
preaching half-text, stuck up in one of
the few principal shops facing the
main street.
The unimportant village of LIAM
merton" lay somewhat far away from
amy town, and therefore did a fair
amount of steady-going business on its
own account. Foremost of all ranked
the repository or store of Janet Lisle,
in which she sold stationery, news
papers, the magazines of the day if
duly ordered in time, besides variety
of useful odds and ends. She was also
the village postmistress, and carried
out the duties of her Office with a
marked regard to promptitude. In
each of these pursuits, however, she
was aided by her pretty and also win
some niece, Elsie Falconbridge.
In all reality, Elsie was more mis-
trcss of the postal department than
Janet Isle herself. 1t was she who
ordinarily undertook the dispatch of
that twice-a-day letter-bag, bestowing
upon each missive previously the due
official stamp-mark. "Janet Lisle's
right hand, in fact" as every one said.
She, too, it was who made the
mullins and crumpets = mullins and
crumpets which were so popular in
the village that no one ever dreamt
of having tea party without also
having "muffins and crumpets" to
match.
"Oblige me with a two-cent stamp,
Miss Falconbridge, won't your" and a
somewhat elderly man at that moment
stared her full in the face-this neces-
sarily, however-through the gap
made in the wire network marking of
the spot allotted to the post-office de-
partment.
She handed him what he required.
"And registered envelope, also, v
he said.
Again she had fulfilled his request.
Thank you," and without much ado
he deposited twenty-dollar note with
in the same.
"All right" he soliloquized, as ole
gentlemen are so fond of doing
"Come, that's done, at any rate" IL
added, in self-congratulatory fashion.
Then came aloud, questioningly:
lin the letter-boxP-or shall l leav,
it with your
You can leave it here, sir" an
swered Elsie, quietly.
Others were now coming in fast, de
handing this and that, and in adopt
ing calm exterior lay her only chanc
of attending rightly to each petitioner
Janet Lisle also was unusually bus
that afternoon. Miss Veal, the riches
old lady in the parish, gave large tie
party that very evening, and muffin
and crumpets were accordingly bein
sent off in starlingly large quantities.
lis there any letter waiting for m
to-day, pleaseP" asked somewhat tim
id voice a few minutes later on.
"No. Miss Josephine, nothing"
Il am sorry Disappointing-is
notp"
The two speakers seemed fully {
comprehend each other. There existed
apparently, sort of pleasant sympath
between them. Both were pretty. Bot
looked good, and also thoroughly i
earnest. Only, that the assistant pos
mistress appeared full of brightnes
and life, and the girl how facing he
wore the aspect of being tired of lii
already.
.'Yes, very. | am sorry, too"
THANK you. You are always kline
Twill look in again tomorrow, if m
doing so will not trouble you to
much
Not at all, Miss Josephine"
The last-named was already movin
away to make room for some one els,
Elsie Falconbridge had, however, n,
yet completed her business with Il
late lawyers daughter.
"Auntie," she whispered. "take m
place here for moment"
Janet Isle nodded in assent.
do come in here an instant wit
me, won't your" and Elsie signed tn;
Miss Josephine should accompany h,
Into the coy back parlor, where a
was now in readiness for tea. III
fact is, Miss Josephine, I've done ii
most stupid thing imaginable to-day
made mistake, and prepared nearl
twice the number of crumpets that vi